Expresssion And Significance Of Hemeoxygenase In Human Placenta Of Pre-eclampsia And Eclampsia

Objective: To investigate the expression of the two known isoformof hemeoxygenase(HO) in human placenta of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia,and discuss its roles in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.Methods: Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)and immunohistochemistry were employed to demonstrate the expression ofHO-1 and HO-2 in the placenta of 30 cases of pre-eclampsia and eclampsiaand 30 normal cases of late pregnancy (control group).Results:(1)RT-PCR analysis demonstrates that the expression of HO-1and HO-2were lower in pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, and there was a significantdifference between the pre-eclampsia and eclampsia and control group(p<0.05).(2) Immunohistochemistry demonstrates that HO-1 was predominantlylocalized in villous stroma cell and trophoblast while HO-2 inascapillaries as well trophoblast, with weak staining of villous stroma.(3)The relative levels of HO-1and HO-2 protein in pre-eclampsiaand eclampsia were obviously lower than those in the control group(p<0.01).Conclusions : The expression of HO decreases in pre-eclampsia andeclampsia, indicating that the decrease may be involved in thepathogenesis of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia and play a role in thepathophysiology of placental perfusion and tissue damage in placenta ofpre-eclampsia and eclampsia.